Despite the growing tide in the river Krishna, downstream of Prakasam’s thumb, the lack of a bridge in the memorial cable, an island village in the Krishna district, depends on the boats to reach the mainland. | Photo Credit: Gn Rao
While officials issued a warning remark that they were asking them not to go to the Krishna River, given the increase in the tide in Prakasam Barrage, which did not prevent the inhabitants of the island villages of Thotlavalluro Mandal in the Krishna district to cross the river.
There are eight island villages, including planting, Kanigiri Lanka, Thodylla Dibba, Valrial and others, which are located downstream from Prakasam Barrage. Pulfly, the largest, has a population of about 2.5
Whenever there is an increase in the tide, the motor boat becomes the only way of transport for these villagers to achieve Thotlavalur or other areas of the mainland. While the villagers laid a temporary road, the field track is washed out every year every time the tide increases in the river. Tardy progress in the sanction of the bridge forced them to depend on ships for everyday commuting during monsoons.
On Thursday, almost 3 Lakh Cusecs received a tide fire that was released. The water in the river, which is usually on 4 feet, has risen to 12 feet, the villagers say.
K. Sambasiva Rao, a fisherman and a boat operator, said, “It was always like this. About two decades ago, politicians promised to build a bridge across the river. The promise remains unfulfilled to this day.” Meanwhile, Sambasiva Rao charges 10 GBP per person for a ferry.
Every day it makes 10 trips and there are seven other motor boats, each of which can carry nearly 30 people. Every day around 2,000 people cross every day between island villages and Thotlavalruru. Ships that restore the service early in the morning continue until 20:00 and receive agricultural workers, high school and university students and other people. Some take their motorcycles along with them on ships.
Eight villages have only elementary schools that make children cross the river every morning when a temporary journey to high school is washed. Although there are no government universities in Thotavallur, a government of high school has recently come.
“We are facing countless problems during rain. We have to carry empty and loaded rollers back to the boats, ambulances cannot get to us, our children commute to ships. Fortunately, there has not been an accident. Operators are safely transporting us,” said tired Raghavulu.
Island villages have fertile land where commercial crops such as sugar cane, banana and turmeric are grown. Many of the mainland go on the other side of the river for agricultural work, says Mandal M. Kusuma Kumari. Many farmers from these villages sell their production in Vuyyur and other close areas.
MRO added that while in every Panchayat there are trades of fair prices and clinics of villages, people must cross the river to visit Thotavalluro for the nearest primary health center (PHC). Many have pointed out how difficult it is for pregnant women or people to go to the hospital during emergencies.
“In the case of extraordinary events, however, we are sending a doctor to these villages,” said Mrs. Kusuma Kumar, adding that the bridge will solve many existing problems.
When the Pamarru was the Varla Kumar Raja asked about the issue of the bridge, he said that the construction work of the bridge was started during the previous TDP possession, but was stopped in 2020. “After the devastation of flood floods, I expected to be waiting for financial education last year,” I said she said.
Published – 31 July 2025 23:08
